Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | Nawab Malik's candidacy causing deep fractures within Maha Yuti ahead of polls

Mumbai: Faultlines have emerged within the ruling Maha Yuti (NDA) alliance over controversial leader Nawab Malik filing nominations for the forthcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections.

A money laundering probe has put Malik on the spot.

Malik has filed two sets of nomination forms from Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar — as an Independent and as member of NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

The NCP has also given tickets to his daughter Sana Malik from Anushakti Nagar.

However, the BJP has strongly opposed his nomination and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is the chief leader of Shiv Sena, is upset.

BJP’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who calls the shots for the Maha Yuti, has held discussions with Ajit Pawar.

Fadnavis, Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule and his Mumbai counterpart Ashish Shelar have expressed resentment over his official candidature by the ally.

Fadnavis, who has spoken about BJP's position many times, further said: "Malik would have no place in the government should the ruling alliance return to power."

“Many in Maharashtra feel that Ajit Pawar should not have given a ticket to him,” said Shelar.

Malik (65) is a five-term MLA — twice from Nehru Nagar and after delimitation thrice from Anushakti Nagar.

Malik has started his political career with Sanjay Vichar Manch and Rashtriya Sanjay Manch. Later he joined Congress and moved to Samajwadi Party. However, he was induced to the undivided NCP by Sharad Pawar and also became a minister in the erstwhile Democratic Front government.

However, now his allegiance is to Ajit Pawar.

BJP has said not to campaign for Malik.

However, Malik said: “Don't campaign for me. I do not insist. I am a candidate of the Nationalist Congress Party. I do not insist that they come and campaign for me. I will take legal action against those who associate my name with Dawood Ibrahim.”

It may be mentioned, Malik (65) was arrested on 23 February, 2022 by the ED - under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) - in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the activities of Pakistan-based underworld don and the mastermind of 1993 serial blasts Dawood Ibrahim. According to the ED charges, Malik had brought the Goawala Building properly in Kurla.

The power of attorney of the property was in the name of Sardar Shah Wali Khan, who is undergoing jail term in the 1993 blasts case and Salim Patel, the frontman of Dawood Ibrahim’s sister late Hasina Parkar. The ED case followed an FIR by the NIA in the Dawood Ibrahim-money laundering case. On 11 August, 2023, the Supreme Court granted him bail on medical grounds and three days later, he was discharged from the hospital, where he was admitted.

Malik is currently on bail from the Supreme Court.

Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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